Could this be a new "golden age" of LEGO train?

[Hechristensen]

If you think of a golden age as a top/highest period of Lego trains, then it should be the grey 12v period. If you browse Brickset for trains, you will see that year 1980 (the launch of grey 12v) had 28 sets. The year 2001 (9v) had 16 sets, and the year 1969 had 15 sets. 2010-2011(PF era) 6-8 sets perhaps....

If you then compare the playabillity of the trains in the different "eras" then it got worse through time. I have to agree with the "REPLY #6" on the critisism of the PF. The IR system is very poor and hard to control. However my 3 year old son can easily use both 12v and 9v system. The new trains like EN and MAERSK are great lookers, but they simple fall apart in the hands of a child. 12v and 9v trains didn't! The new trains aren't made for play, but for display!

As mentioned 12v was easy to control, had electric remote crossings, points, stop and go lights, illumination lights, sections in the track that could be turned off and the train would automatically come to a halt.........

9v was also easy to control, but apart from lights on the train, it didn't have any of the other features of the 12v period.

Now we got PF-train. The trains can be a pain in the neck to control, and apart from lights on the train, it doesn't feature any of the brilliant features that once were available.

In other words, it went from brilliant to OK, and then from OK to .

Ofcause this is my opinion. I dont think PF works for our beloved trains. The PF are a really good asset to the Technic models, but they are too big and clumsy, and lack reliable fine control.

Golden age? Not even close!

Edited February 2, 2012 by Hechristensen

[brickie]

Hechristensen

A very accurate summary of Lego trains.

PF trains leave me cold because the entire loco is filled with battery, RC unit and power cords. Changing batteries is a major operation as it is hard to get the case back inside with all the cords stuffed in there.

I certainly miss the old days when you could open up a door and see the 'motor' of the loco.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

On top of all that... (I know, sorry, take a breath), the TRACK options are terrible now. 9v = you could buy packs of straight rails, or you could buy packs of curved rails, you could buy crossings, you could buy switches. When they switched to PF we complained you had to buy curved along with straight, so what happened? Now you can't buy curved at all, and there's no crossing at all. How's that better?

Not only that... have you tried to find a Double Crossover Track (set 7996)? Are now unavailable also on ebay or bricklink and it's incredible that LEGO Co. has suspended the production of this article with the system still in force.

[Gioppa]

For me The 12v\4,5v was the golden era,

you forget the remote control signal,the remote control point and the remote controlled road crossing??

Ok,the train have that '80 looking,but i've dream about the 7760 disel shunter locomotive(and now finally i've buy).

After with the 9v change the measure of the point, the train are very well detailed, but we don't have that thing on the wheels(and now i forget hte name, but check the 7760 for understand what i mean),for me is more toys of 12v.

Two RC train...

and come the Pf...I love Emerald,If LEGO wants to surprise us have to made a set with steam engine in the Sava way,i don't care about the price,i close the eyes and buy!!

So that is my personal opinion,the 12v is the Golden era of LEGO train.

[Nix Mills]

Thanks for starting this interesting topic.

I'm also an AFOL coming back after 20 years. I grew up with the 12v, and loved them, and now I'm building and driving PF trains with my 4-year-old boy. He loves them, and so do I.

I agree with most of what is being said above. Also all the critics. I think in some ways the PF works better than the 12v and it gives more exciting building options. I also think the Emerald Night and Mærsk train are amazing models that push the boundaries of what we have seen hitherto. The yellow cargo train is a nice no-name replica of common European cargo trains, but I think the red passenger train and the latest cargo train (with the red shunter) are disappointing. What really excites me now, however, is the building options for designing and building your own PF trains and the *potential* it all has.

Model trains in general are popular; with children, parents and grandparents (but probably mostly with the boys and men). And there is a great market worldwide for model trains. The 12v trains at the time where in many ways equal to actual model trains; they ran electricity through the tracks and you could operate switch tracks and signals from your control box - and then of course, you could *build* them, which you can't with actual model trains. The PF trains, however, don't match model trains as of today. You can't really operate switch tracks or signals anymore, your track options are limited (although they did make the flexible track) and you are missing many of the luxury functions now that model trains have, such as different lights and sounds from the engine, horn and other things. I think there is a huge unexploited market potential here.

I think these are some of the things needed in order to call this another Golden Age for Lego trains.

[Pingles]

This is my first age of any kind in Lego Trains, having just finished up a 20+ year dark age. I must say that I am overwhelmed by options. Until I have room for a layout my closet is filled with trains and track. These are exciting times for me.

[stacker9000]

As I am fairly new to LEGO trains, and came in right when RC was going out and PF was coming in,and I am fairly happy with what LEGO has presented to us TFOL's in the past 2 years.

But with reading some of the more knowledgeable and interesting posts from this topic, I realize, beside from what I would like to see LEGO release, That there have been many more options in the past.

I feel ideally the perfect "Golden age" would be..

provide the accessories available from the 12V era(electric switches and signals..that would be awesome!)

provide the track and controller of the 9v era(I never knew or owned 9v, but I wish they still ran on that system)

Provide the locomotive designs of the PF era(the latest designs have been excellent)

LEGO has been heading in a great direction over the past couple years, and I am hopeful they surprise us train fans with more fantastic products!